Key mechanism for calculators.



C. L'OTTERHAND.

KEY MECHANISM FOR CALGULATORS.

a QHEETSSHEET 1.

APPUCATION FILED FEB, 16, 1915.

Patented Jan wane/Mao Z! fl ww 1. C. LOTTERHAND.

KEY MECHANISM FOR CALCULATORS.- APPLXCATION mm FEB. 16, 1915.

Patented Jan. 1, 1916.

3 SHEEY SSHEET 2- I 5] mm ntoz J C Lotterhand.

C. LOTTERHAND. KEY MECHANISM FOR CALCULATORS.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 16, 1915- Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

1,167,001. E Ty 3 WW wtoo JC. Lotterharnd UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JASON G. LOTTERHAND, F NEN YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ADLDOMETER 003F932 TION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

KEY MECHANISM FOR CALCULATORS.

(Jriginal application filed, February 24, 1908, Serial No. 417,352.

February l6, 1915.

l b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jasox C. Lo'r'rnu- HAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key l\'f[echanism for Calculators, oi? which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to the keyboard mechanism of calculating machi one of the objects of the invention is to provide in a keyboard of this character, a series of supports or plates, one for each bank or vertical column of keys, which sup port has operably carried thereby the keys for that column, together with the stop bars and connected parts; whereby any one of these plates can be removed from the keyboard and all of such members, that is, the keys and stop bars and. connected parts will remain attached to the support; so that when the support is replaced in the machine these said members will be ready for operation without any adjustn'ient or reasscmbling.

A. further object at this invention is to provide means for limiting the advance or depression of the key stems, in the nature of abutments on the supporting plates, that receive the direct thrust of the key stem when depressed.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in connection with the described supporting plate for the key stems and stop bars, whereby the stop bars and connecting parts will be carried alternately on opposite sides of the supporting plates; and each plate is further provided with a guide mem her at its rear for guiding thestop bars.

This application is divided outof an application filed by me February 2-1, 1908, Serial No. 417,352.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view of one side of the ma chine, the other side being shown partly in section With the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the machine. Fig.3 is a detail showing the latch bars and connected parts. Fig. i shows enlarged.- a part of a stop bar and also of a latch Fi is a top plan view Specification of Letters Patent.

Divided and this application-filed Serial No. 8,474.

of the rear ends of the key plates. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in 5. illig. 7 shows the attachment of the guide plate for the stop bar, to the supporting plate; and Fig. 8 shows the spring for the stop bars.

In the drawings the parts are shown mounted upon and Within a framework comprising a base plate 2 and an outer upper asing 3 completely enveloping the machine and suitably apertured to permit the passage of some of the parts. it is provided with a series of vertically arranged upwardly projecting plates l adapted serve as supports for the key system and. with two other similar plates 5 and 6 to support other parts of the machine. Each oi these plates 4, 5 and 6, are mounted in slots formed in transverse ribs 500 made integral with or secured to the base of the machine. Each rib is longitudinally apertured and when the plates are in position a retaining bolt 501 is passed through such aperture and also through apertures in the plates registering therewith, and a nut 502 engaging the end of the bolt holds the plate firmly in position. Each of these plates at its upper edge is provided with two projections 503 (Fi 3) adapted to engage with suitable slots in the key plate 14 hereinafter set forth. Each plate transverse guide plate 7 (see Fi 7) having rectangular apertures or slots 8 to permit of the passage of the stop bars 9 hereinafter set forth. Each plate is also provided with a series of recesses 10' to receive the key stems hereinafter mentioned.

Projectingupwardly through the casing 3 are the keys 11 arranged in denominational series in the usual manner, each provided with a finger piece 12 and with a de pending stem 13 adapted to reciprocate in one of the recesses 10 of the plate 4 immediately beneath it, and which stem is guided by an aperture in the upper key plate 14, through which it passes and by its recess 10; the bottom of this recess serving'to limit the downward movement of the key stem.

At its lower end each stem 13 is pivoted to an elbow lever 15, which lever is pivoted at 16 to the supporting plate 4. The other end of lever 15 is pivoted to one of th horizontal stophars 9; the rear end. or.

at its rear end is provided with a her 9. But if the key depressed should not he the one desired in. the same column, the of pressing any other key in that some vertical. column, that is, a key attached to the same supporting plate. i Will have the W etlect of releasing the advanced stop her 9. It will he seen that when the other stop her 9 is advanced, the pin 32 on the bar 2:2 will sense the her to be elevated, and hence the stud 32 that has held the bar 9 in rearward 75 position, will he moved upward out 01 the notch 19 in the hair 9, thereby releasing the stop her 9, that will he at once moved forward by its spring 18 and restore the connected key stem. Therefore it will be it understood that when any of the 9 key stems is depressed and the stop her moved rearward to he engaged by the foot on the rack plate 80, the subsequent depression of any one of the other 8 key-stems in that column, 85 release lever :27, pivoted at connected with. the same supporting plate 28 to ssitehl hicket or arm 29 projecting 4-, *ill cause the release of the hey stem .iirom top plate at the upper pert of previously depressed. cosine The lever 52? has a. finger piece lit is customary in machines of her passing through one of the apertures 8 iii the rear guide plate '7, whereby stop her is-mounted to reciprocate horizon telly. Each step 9 is reduced st the resr fOrmifig shoulders 17,-snd a coil. spring 18 surrounds the reduced portion being compressed between. the shoulders one the side "plate Y.

her 9 is provided on its upper edge I with two adjacent notches lllsnd 20 it), that form between them it summit 2L "the, elbow levers l5 and the stop bars 9 are located slterimtely on. opposite sides of the piste lcommon to each series. Each series of: the lzeysis provided with e letch her 22 (see ig. 3), vertically suspended in recess in the plate i on two- .33 and that are pivoted to the plate 4. it rearward eztension 25 of the arm 23 is pivoted to c release her 26 connected to s this chsr- 25% with .iich it has at slotted connection. ecterto provide it member operated at each so Eitfill latch bar is provided with project; swinging of the main handle or operetisg gtudg d td m g g with th shaft thst'will so shift all of the latch bars, ches l9 and 20 in the stop bars 9 (see that each of the stop bars that mey hsve l1" at) and a spring 33 pulls the latch been shifted to rearward position will he her downwardly. released and restored. ln Fi 2 is shown so lfl heii shy of the keys is depressed as the e her 377 that by suitable means not herein "gig-{imam 1- 5, St d 32 th latch oar. set forth, is raise at each operation of the til mmit occurs, the rearward main shaf for a short distance. This v 1531115 .331 filwwqtgp bay causes the gunfinit; Will elevate all Of the lt'llltfill bill'S 22, {Hill at td raise the pi ehd'lstch her until the the studs 32 will move out the notch 10f summit moves ree-uriverd beyond middle of stop her tha m y fl been ed portion of the oin 32' whereu gs the for rear 'erd by depression of e key and theretheir rearward movement of the our will fore all of the stop bars will be restored. bring the stud 32 to the rearward it is also usual in machines out this charlfl Well ct the notch 1 the stud and latch enter to provide a specisl key known as an her will be drawn downward by the spring error hey. Finch hey whendepressed Will until thstud rests the bottom of also elevate the her 3'4"? end likewise restore the etch 19 (the key now being "eless'ed, ell of the depressed stop bars and keys spring; 18 would have the tendencyto Will be seen that by reason of the -15 move the stop her 9 tor'wsrd to restore the structure that hes been forth, Whenever 11o depi d key, but the spring 33 holds the any key stem 13 is depressed by the operator, latch. bar down "Wi' it will mo e downwardly until the lower t x: hey 1 V the depression or rec s eh ehutmeritthe su I! v l 83138-9 tile end were 1 my that ct so MlditiGEl-Sil member s :irtece formed Gil the supcourse this will limit ives to the elbow lever le siid rearward advance of the connected stop her 9. Thus the more oil-the top of the key stem 4% by the the operator is directly received he lower end or" the stem striking the "cm of the recesslt) in the supper-ti;

will. l v.lso understood that i i m or progec stile depending stein, a plate provided with a recess in which the stem 18 adapted to move i Lelhas the arrangement oi? the adjacent notches l9 and 20 having inclined or relatively angular adjacent sid walls, the angular summit 21 is 'fOlHlCih s h the stop bar moved rearaid on dep ing a key, the stud 3) on the latch bar in ride up the inclined side of the notch 20 rd elevate the latch bar, until the stud pas cs over the ridge of this suminit; whereupon the further rearward movement of the stop bar will permit the stud to pass down the adjacent inclined edge oi the recess l. 9, and this will continue until the stud rests in the bottom of the notch 19. lhe shape of these walls prevents the return of the stop bar by its spring 18, by

'reason of the considerable tension oi the spring 33 that holds the latch bar in the lmvered-position. But from the elevation of the latch bar by any cause, the stud will n'iove up from the notch 1 thereby releasing the advanced latchliar 9, ,tnat

' he at once retracted liy its spring d n i has.

'c noven'iel't of e time when any other 1 ;ie riairwvard position in the. depr ssion 19, \ill witch bar and thereby release advanced stop bar, to permit the latter to return to normal position. It will be further understood that each oi the plates ore-on, and heacecarried there- )ow levers 1-3; to hich levers pivoted the nine keystems s ots 10), and also the nine hicn stop bars 9 at their other end portio led and supported by the slotted pr lat is ,ermanently secured at the or each sni'n iorting plate l. Consequently removal of the Supporting bolts 501., any on of the supporting plates 1} c n be remov moval e casing o pivoted iv guioca i' stop bars ate l; careturi on the :ibs 500, when these mems, stems, elbow levers and stop bars, '..lll be by such act con'ipletely reassembled and ready for use, upon the return of the slotted plate 14 that guides the key stems.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a key provided with a and which serves to limit its movement, a

bar adapted to move alongside of the plate,

1 series or opposite sides ol' the plate and the ends of which are adapted to engage in said stagbar, and a latch provided with a stud adapted to engage in either notch of the bar.

3. In a machine of the character described; a key, a depending stem, a substantially horizontal bar, a jointed connection between the barand the stem, :1 support and a guide for the bar, and means for retracting the bar to its original position, comprising a spring acting against the guide and support.

4. In a machine of the character described, a key sup porting plate, a transverse guide plate having staggered apertures, a series of stop bars alternately arranged on opposite sides of the plate and the ends of which are adapted to engage in said stag gored apertures, means for reciprocating the bars comprising keys, one for each bar, and means for retacting the bars to position after such reciprocation, comprising a spring on each bar interposed between the transi'erse guide and a part of the bar.

ii in a machine of the character described, a key supporting plate, a transverse guide plate having staggered apertures, a

stop liars alternately arranged on gered apertures, means for reciprocating the bars comprising keys, one for each bar, and means for limiting the movement of the keys, consi cing of stems on the keys-and recesses in the plate on the bottoms of which the stems are adapted to impinge at the end "5 their stroke.

6. In a machine of the character described, a key supporting plate, a transverse guide plate having staggered apertures, a series of stop bars alternately arranged on opposite sides of the plate and the ends of which are adapted to engage insaid staggered apertures, means for reciprocating the bars coniprising keys, one for each bar, and means for peru'ianently limiting the movement of the bars, consisting of means in the plan, adapted to stop the keys at a predetermined point.

'1'. In a scribed, a key s1ip1')( i'ti11g plate, a transverse guide plate having staggered apertures, a series of stop bars alternately arranged on opposite. sides of the plate and the ends of which are adapted to engage in said staggered apertures, means for reciprocating the bars comprising keys, one for each bar, a latch bar adjacent to the stop bars and means for yieldingly maintaining the. posimachine of the character dein said 120 vers plvaja e 2 a, set f stop 52:103. levers,

es, each l Age with they L w mi nu V as, w

terns located 1 t0 said? levers redplate,

e, CM

J. L la pi w A. A i'u 1215 an .from one eflge t the tively, a

on sa able pm lga mach

iv. u

V I keyu bars coiSpar val-9 1'6 adan machizi 1! scribed, meda wort be 01m cmfiks 0p bar.

posh on eri enim" mad prm

the stems of saic P aapted 10 hinged 121i;

P 31011 or armngem fiber-eon,

anama ars, for

at swam was stag- 152' the ns hes axles of "a stop l men sci "a l as not r1151 has 0 from amct'er in Said.

1' each 1) bar, an the posit e1 5 note e a th note 3 a series 0 w .L7 g Lulu 2nd engagement.

Le oi ate, a t 'ed ape?" adapted be each a, latch movemenfi of 15 for reciprocati adjac opposlt of the chzwa umeral key lox'lzontal Q eijtlcnl separate means for 15 bars cf the series of step bars, and

0f the chamezer demtches 021 me a ii a time, 2111i mezz A enact 151w stop bars when the;

3's, one f0 Mining enga sween tham wing 01":

sin d 1 '3" m? of eviousiv moved 1s bed "6:0 engage the 11mm com; the stop aiming s inn jmeni:

corms Stu ppm

{I LL11 Hit? 113 adapte met 3" a sunnm studs map 011a swu bars (me a as 0?? numeral 5' comm mach ne scrlbe i, a serles bars, a

mac

and

1 a 1 ha latch bar any n has,

011 bar neldingl' 1 J in each 1:95

ingly m in m SCIlbEQL in the stop 5 0f be his ed, en pr -eci use mm at;

new

which are adapted. t0 engage gered up rtures, mean bars Int 5 for the km each bar substantially yield 10.

hav

on adapted to 1* stud them 11 Wherebv veulen u w mov 9 be turn comp bar and havm 55 on adaptsd m when advanced in 1 FL om n m 1 J. bars mm lb openings respectively, a set of levers pivotally mounted on said plate, a set of stop bars one pivoted to each of said levers, said key stems being pivoted to said levers respec-' tively and arranged when advanced to shift the stop bars and to engage the bottom of the opening to limit the advance of the key stem, said levers and their connected stop bars being alternately located on opposite sides of said plate.

22. In a machine of the character described, a key-supporting plate, a transverse guideplate secured to one end of said plate and provided with staggered apertures on opposite sides of the plane of said keysupporting plate, a series of stop bars'alternately arranged on opposite sides of said supporting plate. and engaging said apertures, and key members carried by said plate for operating the stop bars,

"23. In a machine of the character described, a set of key-supporting plates, a transverse guide plate secured to one end of each plate and provided with staggered apertures on opposite Sides of the plane of said key supporting plate, a seriesof stop bars alternately arranged on opposite sides of each said supporting plate and engaging said apertures, key members carried by s id plate for operating the stop bars, and means for assembling the key-supporting plates for separate removal Without distu b g the said parts carried by the plates.

JASON 0.. LOTTERHAND.

Witnesses i E; M. SQUAREY, C. M. REYNoLDs, 

